I read an article comparing the 1918 pandemic with this one. Adjusting for differences in population, the 1918 pandemic would have killed more 3 million people today. They didn't shut down people's businesses, lock people in their homes, and force everyone to wear masks. No one wants to get sick or die, but it appears we've become a bunch of self absorbed pansies compared to our countrymen of a hundred years ago.
"Many of the methods Americans used in 1918 to try to prevent the spread of the flu are similar to what people began doing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Close schools. Wear masks. Don’t cough or sneeze in someone’s face. Avoid large events and hold them outside when possible. And no spitting."
https://www.history.com/news/1918-pandemic-public-health-campaigns